Why is gluten free so expensive

While browsing the aisles, I had major sticker shock. Of course, the journalist in me wanted to know: Is gluten-free more expensive, really—and how could I save money on my grocery bill? I chatted with a few food and nutrition experts to get their insight. Each one is associated with varying costs. The most expensive option for a manufacturer is getting their products certified gluten-free by a third party, like the Gluten Free Certification Organization GFCO.

The good news is? The next time you hit up the supermarket or place an order for grocery delivery, put these expert-approved tips to use:. Moreover, restaurants are not equipped to handle patrons with allergies and intolerances. Policies and procedures need to be in place, and waiters need to carry them through at service.

Training costs money and if you are in the restaurant business, you may know that with staffing there are frequent changes.

Chefs also need extra preparation space, separate toasters, pots for separate pasta and this too comes at an additional cost to the restaurant. It is far beyond what most restaurants can bake into the prices of their regular menu.

If you are lucky to find a restaurant that will go the extra mile for you, you have a friend for life. From a consumer's Point-of-view, I am a mom with kids with celiac. Going out to eat is a bigger treat for me that it is for them.

It means the onus of cooking and baking for this one meal is not on me!!! Even when we do go out to eat in most restaurants, we bring our own bread for the basket so we can feel the dining experience.

I already paid more for the buns at the grocery store because it's gluten-free, so what is the difference if the restaurant charges me instead?

We order naturally gluten-free foods such as chicken, vegetables and rice all plain without the gravies, breading or sauces. Sometimes it is good and other times we're just happy to be out and served. So if a restaurant's policy is to honour and serve their gluten-free patrons by going the extra mile and charging me an extra dollar or two - let me say it again I'M ALL IN!

Bread basket, seasoned and delicious food that is safe to eat and with great attention to avoid allergens I am very grateful to any restauranteur that will do that for me and my family. I'm paying to sit and relax. To have someone else cook for me!

To not clean my kitchen. To actually eat at the same time with my kids. What's that worth? If every restaurant said they couldn't accommodate us where would we all eat? Additional staffing, special equipment and these additional steps are just a few of the reasons gluten-free foods come with a higher price tag than other foods.

Read about Three Bakers Promise. Furthermore, another reason why gluten-free foods tend to be costlier is due to the number of certifications required to bear the gluten-free label. These may include one or more of the following:. Each of these agencies has their own set of strict guidelines that gluten free companies must adhere to, each of which can be time-consuming and costly.